I'm in Michigan and I've seen other posts on this general issue. Ranger tailgates rust at the bottom where the metal is folded eventually in this climate. One of the things I've never been crazy about Ford for: this has been a known weakness for 30 years, but why change what isn't working? So, I'm going to have a bash at grinding it out with an angle grinder on my basement worktable and see if I can't clean it up and get it pretty again. So, zinc chromate primer? Rust converter? Grind it until it shines, bondo, sand, prime and paint? Grind, rust converter, fill with black roofing mastic, put an aluminum sleeve around the entire bottom lip of the tailgate and bolt? Move to Arizona (not an actual option)?

What say you? Ol' Blue is a 1994 with a standard Styleside tailgate. I'm changing the tailgate's cables and the hinges out anyway, so the time is right.